6 Days Lhasa to Shigatse Tour in Saga Dawa Festival

Overview

The Lhasa to Shigatse Tour during the Saga Dawa Festival offers a captivating and culturally immersive journey through the heart of Tibet. Starting in Lhasa, the spiritual and administrative capital of Tibet, the tour takes you on a scenic drive along the breathtaking Friendship Highway to Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet. The timing of the trip coincides with the revered Saga Dawa Festival, a significant event in Tibetan Buddhism, adding an extra layer of spiritual significance to the adventure.

During the Saga Dawa Festival, which usually takes place in May or June, you’ll have the privilege of witnessing the Tibetan people’s religious fervor as they celebrate the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. The festival is marked by colorful processions, fervent prayers, and the spinning of prayer wheels, creating a deeply moving and unforgettable experience.

Overall, the Lhasa to Shigatse Tour during the Saga Dawa Festival offers a harmonious blend of cultural exploration, natural beauty, and spiritual encounters. It is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich traditions of Tibet, witness the devotion of its people, and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

Tour Type:

Celebrate Saga Dawa Festival at Jokhang Temple on 4 June 2023

Trip Level:

Easy – suitable for all levels of fitness, family with kids and senior groups.

Season:

Spring春
Summer夏
Autumn秋
Winter冬

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)

When you arrive in Lhasa either by train or flight, your guide will greet you and take you to your hotel. Tourists may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/ Bhamaputra River (the longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa River on their way to Lhasa.

After arriving in Lhasa, you can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude. If you feel to go out, then you can go to the Potala Square, where you will enjoy the fountain with different colors and get amazing photos of the Potala and around.

Insider Tips:
For the new-comers of Tibet, to get acclimatized to the high altitude in Tibet, having a good sleep in your hotel is a good option. Don not rush to visit attractions inside Lhasa City.

Stay overnight in Lhasa (3-Star Hotel)

Day 2: Lhasa Tour – Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Drepung Monastery (B, D)

Today, you will head to the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple. As the center of Saga Dawa Festival in Lhasa, Jokhang Temple is the best place to feel the festival atmosphere. Pilgrims from all directions arrive at this temple in the morning to worship the image of the 12-year-old Buddha, and do Kora inside the hall of Jokhang Temple or around the temple by circling along Barkhor Street.

Beggars and poor pilgrims gather around Jokhang Temple and wait for their donations peacefully, making Saga Dawa Festival also know as “the Poor’s Day”. With a belief that all good deeds are multiplied thousand fold during this festival, people are more generous to offer donations.

Jokhang Temple was founded by the 33rd Great King of Tibet in the 7th century. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

We will also visit Drepung Monastery which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. You can visit the biggest monastery kitchen inside the monastery and enjoy Buddhist Sculpture Carving Workshop near Drepung.

Besides, We can taste Tibetan tea with locals in tea house. The welcome dinner will also be arranged accordingly.

Day 3: Lhasa Tour – Potala Palace, Sera Monastery (B)

Today’s tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd Great King of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and Meditation Cave of the 33rd Great King of Tibet.

In the afternoon, we will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The hot attraction is the Monks Debate at around 3 – 5 in the afternoon. In addition, you can tour the Tibetan religious scripture printing house. Inside the monastery, you can see three Sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.

Stay overnight in Lhasa (3-Star Hotel)

Potala PalaceMonk debate held in the courtyard of Sera Monastery

Day 4: Lhasa (3650m) to Shigatse(3900m) via Gyantse (B)

In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Shigatse. On the way, drive over the Gampala Pass (4790m), and you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m) .The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain near Lhasa .

Later, we will pass and enjoy the Korola Glacier on the roadside. At Manak Dam Lake, you can hang prayer flags at Simila Mountain Pass. Then, we will arrive in Gyantse, historically Tibet’s third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse). In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum and enjoy the far view of Gyangtse Fortress.

After one and a half hours driving, we arrive in Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet. In Shigatse, we may visit traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field (in summer).

Stay overnight in Shigatse

Enjoy the fascinating scenery of the holy Yamdrok LakeBeautiful lakes you will see at Karo La Pass

Day 5: Shigatse (3900m) to Lhasa (3650m) (B)

In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchan Lama – Tashilunpo Monastery. You can see the well preserved largest statue of Jampa (Future God) in the world. The monastery itself is abiding place for the successive Penchen Lamas. Then we are expected to follow Yalong Valley back to Lhasa, and the guide will get you transferred to your hotels.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Tashilunpo Monastery, the home of Panchan Lama Tashi Lhunpo monastery, at the foot of Drolmari moutain, is the largest monastery in southern Tibet.

Day 6: Depart from Lhasa (B)

The guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board.

Included:

  • Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
  • All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
  • Personal knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
  • Personal comfortable, clean and safe vehicle with reliable Tibetan local driver; vehicle ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on your group size;
  • All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel or budget hostel, guesthouse or tent. Please tell us your accommodation preference when submitting the enquiry; we will arrange the best-value hotels for you.
  • Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary;
  • All meals listed in the above itinerary;
  • Tourist accident/casualty insurance;
  • First aid kit;

Excluded:

  • International flight to and out of China;
  • Chinese visa (Note: we could help you with the Chinese visa application, like providing the invitation letter, presenting the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies, etc that you may need. )
  • Domestic flight/train not listed in the itinerary. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price; please contact us our travel experts for the details.)
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
  • Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver;
  • Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.